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Abstract:

An input module is mounted on a portable electronic device and has a
sensing substrate and a cover lens mounted on a top surface of the
sensing substrate, a physical switch mounted on and electrically
connected to a bottom surface of the sensing substrate, and a flexible
bridging board having two opposite short sides respectively protruding
from two short sides of the sensing substrate for the two short sides of
the flexible bridging board to be mounted on the electronic device. As
the two short sides of the input module are mounted on the electronic
device and a lever arm between a pressed point to a fixed point of the
input module is shortened, a torque applied to the input module is
lowered and the input module is not easily deformed.

Claims:

1. An input module of a portable electronic device comprising: a sensing
substrate having: a top surface; a bottom surface opposite to the top
surface; two relatively long sides; and two relatively short sides; a
cover lens mounted on the top surface of the sensing substrate; a
physical switch mounted on and electrically connected to the bottom
surface of the sensing substrate; and a flexible bridging board mounted
on the bottom surface of the sensing substrate and having: two relatively
short sides respectively protruding from the two relatively short sides
of the sensing substrate, and two relatively long sides, each relatively
long side kept at a distance from one of the relatively long sides of the
sensing substrate.

2. The input module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible bridging
board is narrower than the sensing substrate in width, and the two
relatively long side are kept at an equal distance from the corresponding
relatively long sides of the sensing substrate.

3. The input module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the physical switch is
centrally mounted on the bottom surface of the sensing substrate.

4. The input module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible bridging
board has: a bridging body flatly mounted on the bottom surface of the
sensing substrate and having: an opening formed through the bridging body
to correspond to the physical switch; and two relatively short sides; and
two fixing portions respectively connected with the two relatively short
sides of the bridging body.

5. The input module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flexible bridging
board has: a bridging body flatly mounted on the bottom surface of the
sensing substrate and having: an opening formed through the bridging body
to correspond to the physical switch; and two relatively short sides; and
two fixing portions respectively connected with the two relatively short
sides of the bridging body.

6. The input module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flexible bridging
board further has a bending portion integrally formed between the
bridging body and each fixing portion of the flexible bridging board.

7. The input module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the flexible bridging
board further has a bending portion integrally formed between the
bridging body and each fixing portion of the flexible bridging board.

8. The input module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bridging body of
the flexible bridging board further has two support wings, each support
wing formed on and protruding from one of the relatively long sides
toward a corresponding relatively long side of the sensing substrate.

9. The input module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bridging body of
the flexible bridging board further has two support wings, each support
wing formed on and protruding from one of the relatively long sides
toward a corresponding relatively long side of the sensing substrate.

10. The input module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bridging body of
the flexible bridging board further has two support wings, each support
wing formed on and protruding from one of the relatively long sides
toward a corresponding relatively long side of the sensing substrate.

11. The input module as claimed in claim 4, wherein each fixing portion
of the flexible bridging board has at least one fixing hole formed
through the fixing portion.

12. The input module as claimed in claim 5, wherein each fixing portion
of the flexible bridging board has at least one fixing hole formed
through the fixing portion.

13. The input module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the opening of the
bridging body of the flexible bridging board is rectangular.

14. The input module as claimed in claim 8, wherein the support wings of
the flexible bridging board are arced.

15. The input module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible bridging
board has: a bridging body flatly mounted on the bottom surface of the
sensing substrate and having: a ring portion corresponding to a position
of the physical switch for the physical switch to align with a central
opening of the ring portion; and two relatively short sides; and two
fixing portions, wherein one side of each fixing portion is connected
with one of the two relatively short sides of the bridging body.

16. The input module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flexible bridging
board has: a bridging body flatly mounted on the bottom surface of the
sensing substrate and having: a ring portion corresponding to a position
of the physical switch for the physical switch to align with a central
opening of the ring portion; and two relatively short sides; and two
fixing portions, wherein one side of each fixing portion is connected
with one of the two relatively short sides of the bridging body.

17. The input module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the flexible bridging
board has: a bridging body flatly mounted on the bottom surface of the
sensing substrate and having: a ring portion corresponding to a position
of the physical switch for the physical switch to align with a central
opening of the ring portion; and two relatively short sides; and two
fixing portions, wherein one side of each fixing portion is connected
with one of the two relatively short sides of the bridging body.

18. The input module as claimed in claim 15, wherein the bridging body
further has at least one fixing protrusion formed on each of two sides of
the bridging body corresponding to the two relatively short sides of the
sensing substrate; and each fixing portion has at least one inner hole
formed through one side of the fixing portion, respectively corresponding
to the at least one fixing protrusion, and engaging the corresponding
fixing protrusion for one side of the fixing portion to be securely
mounted on a corresponding side of the bridging body.

19. The input module as claimed in claim 15, wherein each fixing portion
has at least one outer hole formed through the other opposite side of the
fixing portion protruding beyond a corresponding relatively short side of
the sensing substrate.

20. The input module as claimed in claim 18, wherein each fixing portion
has at least one outer hole formed through the other opposite side of the
fixing portion protruding beyond a corresponding relatively short side of
the sensing substrate.

21. The input module as claimed in claim 15, wherein each fixing portion
is a metal sheet and has a bending portion centrally formed on the fixing
portion.

22. The input module as claimed in claim 20, wherein each fixing portion
is a metal sheet and has a bending portion centrally formed on the fixing
portion.

23. The input module as claimed in claim 21, wherein each bending portion
has a U-shaped cross section.

24. The input module as claimed in claim 22, wherein each bending portion
has a U-shaped cross section.

25. A portable electronic device comprising: a body having: an opening
formed through one side of the body; and an assembly portion
correspondingly mounted to the opening; and an input module mounted on
the assembly portion through the opening of the body, and having: a
sensing substrate having: a top surface; a bottom surface opposite to the
top surface; two relatively long sides; and two relatively short sides; a
cover lens mounted on the top surface of the sensing substrate and
exposed from the opening of the body; a physical switch mounted on and
electrically connected to the bottom surface of the sensing substrate;
and a flexible bridging board mounted on the bottom surface of the
sensing substrate and having: two relatively short sides respectively
protruding from the two relatively short sides of the sensing substrate
and mounted on the assembly portion of the body, and two relatively long
sides, each relatively long side kept at a distance from one of the
relatively long sides of the sensing substrate.

26. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the
flexible bridging board is narrower than the sensing substrate in width,
and the relatively long sides of the flexible bridging board are kept at
an equal distance from the corresponding relatively long sides of the
sensing substrate.

27. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the
physical switch is centrally mounted on the bottom surface of the sensing
substrate and aligns with a raised block of the assembly portion.

28. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the
flexible bridging board has: a bridging body flatly mounted on the bottom
surface of the sensing substrate and having: an opening formed through
the bridging body to correspond to the physical switch; and two
relatively short sides; and two fixing portions respectively connected
with the two relatively short sides of the bridging body.

29. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the
flexible bridging board has: a bridging body flatly mounted on the bottom
surface of the sensing substrate and having: an opening formed through
the bridging body to correspond to the physical switch; and two
relatively short sides; and two fixing portions respectively connected
with the two relatively short sides of the bridging body.

30. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the
flexible bridging board further has a bending portion integrally formed
between the bridging body and each fixing portion of the flexible
bridging board.

31. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the
flexible bridging board further has a bending portion integrally formed
between the bridging body and each fixing portion of the flexible
bridging board.

32. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the
bridging body of the flexible bridging board further has two support
wings, each support wing formed on and protruding from one of the
relatively long sides toward a corresponding relatively long side of the
sensing substrate.

33. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the
bridging body of the flexible bridging board further has two support
wings, each support wing formed on and protruding from one of the
relatively long sides toward a corresponding relatively long side of the
sensing substrate.

34. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the
bridging body of the flexible bridging board further has two support
wings, each support wing formed on and protruding from one of the
relatively long sides toward a corresponding relatively long side of the
sensing substrate.

35. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 28, wherein each
fixing portion of the flexible bridging board has at least one fixing
hole formed through the fixing portion and mounted through by a fastening
element for the fixing portion to be securely mounted on the assembly
portion.

36. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 29, wherein each
fixing portion of the flexible bridging board has at least one fixing
hole formed through the fixing portion and mounted through by a fastening
element for the fixing portion to be securely mounted on the assembly
portion.

37. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the
opening of the bridging body of the flexible bridging board is
rectangular.

38. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the
support wings of the flexible bridging board are arced.

39. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the
flexible bridging board has: a bridging body flatly mounted on the bottom
surface of the sensing substrate and having: a ring portion corresponding
to a position of the physical switch for the physical switch to align
with a central opening of the ring portion; and two relatively short
sides; and two fixing portions, wherein one side of each fixing portion
is connected with one of the two relatively short sides of the bridging
body, and the other side of the fixing portion is mounted on the assembly
portion.

40. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the
flexible bridging board has: a bridging body flatly mounted on the bottom
surface of the sensing substrate and having: a ring portion corresponding
to a position of the physical switch for the physical switch to align
with a central opening of the ring portion; and two relatively short
sides; and two fixing portions, wherein one side of each fixing portion
is connected with one of the two relatively short sides of the bridging
body, and the other side of the fixing portion is mounted on the assembly
portion.

41. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the
flexible bridging board has: a bridging body flatly mounted on the bottom
surface of the sensing substrate and having: a ring portion corresponding
to a position of the physical switch for the physical switch to align
with a central opening of the ring portion; and two relatively short
sides; and two fixing portions, wherein one side of each fixing portion
is connected with one of the two relatively short sides of the bridging
body, and the other side of the fixing portion is mounted on the assembly
portion.

42. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the
bridging body further has at least one fixing protrusion formed on each
of two sides of the bridging body corresponding to the two relatively
short sides of the sensing substrate; and each fixing portion has at
least one inner hole formed through one side of the fixing portion,
respectively corresponding to the at least one fixing protrusion, and
engaging the corresponding fixing protrusion for one side of the fixing
portion to be securely mounted on a corresponding side of the bridging
body.

43. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 39, wherein each
fixing portion has at least one outer hole formed through the other
opposite side of the fixing portion protruding beyond a corresponding
relatively short side of the sensing substrate and mounted through by a
fastening element for the fixing portion to be securely mounted on the
assembly portion.

44. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 42, wherein each
fixing portion has at least one outer hole formed through the other
opposite side of the fixing portion protruding beyond a corresponding
relatively short side of the sensing substrate.

45. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 39, wherein each
fixing portion is a metal sheet and has a bending portion centrally
formed on the fixing portion.

46. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 44, wherein each
fixing portion is a metal sheet and has a bending portion centrally
formed on the fixing portion.

47. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 45, wherein each
bending portion has a U-shaped cross section.

48. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 46, wherein each
bending portion has a U-shaped cross section.

49. A flexible bridging board of an input module comprising: a bridging
body being rectangular and having two relatively short sides; and two
fixing portions respectively connected with the two relatively short
sides of the bridging body.

50. The flexible bridging board as claimed in claim 49, further
comprising a bending portion integrally formed between the bridging body
and each fixing portion.

51. The flexible bridging board as claimed in claim 50, wherein the
bridging body has an opening formed through the bridging body.

52. The flexible bridging board as claimed in claim 49, wherein the
bridging body of the flexible bridging board further has two support
wings, each support wing formed on and protruding outwards from one of
the relatively long sides.

53. The flexible bridging board as claimed in claim 49, wherein each
fixing portion of the flexible bridging board has at least one fixing
hole formed through a free end of the fixing portion.

54. The flexible bridging board as claimed in claim 51, wherein the
opening of the bridging body of the flexible bridging board is
rectangular.

55. The flexible bridging board as claimed in claim 52, wherein the
support wings of the flexible bridging board are arced.

56. The flexible bridging board as claimed in claim 49, wherein the
bridging body further has at least one fixing protrusion formed on each
of two sides of the bridging body corresponding to the two relatively
short sides of the sensing substrate; and each fixing portion has at
least one inner hole formed through one side of the fixing portion,
respectively corresponding to the at least one fixing protrusion, and
engaging the corresponding fixing protrusion for one side of the fixing
portion to be securely mounted on a corresponding side of the bridging
body.

57. The flexible bridging board as claimed in claim 56, wherein the
bridging body further has a ring portion centrally formed thereon and
having an opening centrally formed through the ring portion.

58. The flexible bridging board as claimed in claim 56, wherein each
fixing portion has at least one fixing hole formed through one side of
the fixing portion.

59. The flexible bridging board as claimed in claim 56, wherein each
fixing portion is a metal sheet and has a bending portion centrally
formed on the fixing portion.

60. The flexible bridging board as claimed in claim 59, wherein each
bending portion has a U-shaped cross section.

Description:

[0001] The current application claims a foreign priority to the patent
application of Taiwan No. 101118135 filed on May 22, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an input module of a portable
electronic device and more particularly to an input module of a portable
electronic device being durable and resistant to bending deformation.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Technological progress has created many portable electronic devices
to facilitate electronic operations of users. When it comes to the cursor
control of notebook computers or tablet personal computers (PC), mice of
desktop computers are technically feasible while they are inconvenient as
far as portability is concerned. Such inconvenience opens a door for
input modules mounted on portable electronic devices. With reference to
FIG. 8A, users can control cursor positions by moving their fingers on
the input module 60. To completely replace the function of a mouse, the
input module 60 further has a physical switch serving for users to press
and simulating the functions of the left button and the right button of a
regular mouse.

[0006] With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, a conventional input module 60 of
a portable electronic device has a sensing board 61, a cover lens 62, a
physical switch 63 and a side-fixing plate 64.

[0007] The cover lens 62 is mounted on a top surface of the sensing board
61 for users' fingers to touch.

[0008] The physical switch 63 is mounted on and electrically connected to
a bottom surface of the sensing board 61, and is adjacent to a central
position of one of two relatively long sides of the sensing board 61.

[0009] The side-fixing plate 64 is shorter than the sensing board 61 in
width and is mounted on the other relatively long side of the sensing
board 61. One side of the side-fixing plate 64 protrudes beyond one of
the two relatively long sides of the sensing board 61. The side-fixing
plate 64 is screwed on an assembly portion 51 on the front of the
portable electronic device.

[0010] With reference to FIG. 11, to let the physical switch 63 of the
input module 60 be activated when the cover lens 62 is pressed down, the
assembly portion 51 has a protrusion 52 to correspond to the physical
switch 63. When the cover lens 62 is pressed, the physical switch 63
abuts against the protrusion 52 and is activated. Meanwhile, the input
module 60 detects a force application point exerted by a user on a left
half region or a right half region of the cover lens 62 with respect to
the physical switch 63 to correspond to input signals of a left button
and a right button and implement the control functions of the left button
and right button of a mouse.

[0011] As mentioned, the foregoing input module 60 can identify users'
left-button or right-button operations with single physical switch 63.
With reference to FIG. 8B, one of two relatively long sides of the input
module 60 is fastened on the assembly portion 51 through the side-fixing
plate 64, and users oftentimes press corners indicated by a letter `F`
and being adjacent to the other relatively long side and two relatively
short sides of the input module 60 to input through the left button or
the right button. According to the torque equation, a lever arm D1 is
determined by a distance between the pressed point `F` and a fixed point
(fulcrum), and a torque is obtained by a product of the lever arm and a
force. The longer the lever arm is, the higher the torque and the bending
stress are. After having been operated for a long time, the input module
is prone to permanent deformation and gaps formed between the assembly
portion 51 and the portable electronic device easily store dirt and filth
that is hard to be cleaned up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A first objective of the present invention is to provide an input
module being durable and resistant to bending deformation.

[0013] To achieve the foregoing objective, the input module has a sensing
substrate, a cover lens, a physical switch and a flexible bridging board.

[0014] The sensing substrate has a top surface, a bottom surface, two
relatively long sides and two relatively short sides. The bottom surface
is opposite to the top surface.

[0015] The cover lens is mounted on the top surface of the sensing
substrate.

[0016] The physical switch is mounted on and is electrically connected to
the bottom surface of the sensing substrate.

[0017] The flexible bridging board is mounted on the bottom surface of the
sensing substrate and has two relatively short sides and two relatively
long sides.

[0018] The relatively short sides respectively protrude from the two
relatively short sides of the sensing substrate.

[0019] Each relatively long side is kept at a distance from one of the
relatively long sides of the sensing substrate.

[0020] The input module of the present invention is mounted on the
assembly portion by fixing two relatively short sides of the flexible
bridging board on the assembly portion. When a pressed point falls on any
of four corners of the input module, a distance between the pressed point
to a fixed point to the relatively short side is effectively shortened in
comparison with the distance on the conventional input module with a
single relatively long side fastened. Accordingly, a bending stress
applied to the input module is reduced, the time before the input module
generates permanent deformation is postponed and the operation duration
of the input module is prolonged.

[0021] A second objective of the present invention is to provide a
portable electronic device having an input module being durable and
resistant to bending deformation.

[0022] To achieve the foregoing objective, the portable electronic device
has a body and an input module.

[0023] The body has an opening and an assembly portion. The opening is
formed through one side of the body. The assembly portion correspondingly
mounted to the opening.

[0024] The input module is mounted on the assembly portion through the
opening of the body, and has a sensing substrate, a cover lens, a
physical switch and a flexible bridging board.

[0025] The sensing substrate has a top surface, a bottom surface, two
relatively long sides and two relatively short sides. The bottom surface
is opposite to the top surface.

[0026] The cover lens is mounted on the top surface of the sensing
substrate and is exposed from the opening of the body.

[0027] The physical switch is mounted on and electrically connected to the
bottom surface of the sensing substrate.

[0028] The flexible bridging board is mounted on the bottom surface of the
sensing substrate and has two relatively short sides and two relatively
long sides.

[0029] The relatively short sides respectively protrude from the two
relatively short sides of the sensing substrate and are mounted on the
assembly portion of the body.

[0030] Each relatively long side is kept at a distance from one of the
relatively long sides of the sensing substrate.

[0031] The input module of the portable electronic device is mounted on
the assembly portion by fixing two relatively short sides of the flexible
bridging board on the assembly portion and the physical switch is
centrally mounted on the bottom surface of the sensing substrate. When a
pressed point falls on any of four corners of the input module, a
distance between the pressed point to a fixed point to the relatively
short side is effectively shortened in comparison with the distance on
the conventional input module with a single relatively long side
fastened. Accordingly, a bending stress applied to the input module is
reduced, the time before the input module generates permanent deformation
is postponed and the operation duration of the input module is prolonged.

[0032] Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an input
module in accordance with the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the input module in FIG.
1;

[0035]FIG. 3A is a partial top view of a first embodiment of a portable
electronic device in accordance with the present invention;

[0036]FIG. 3B is a schematic top view of the input module in FIG. 1
having multiple function button areas;

[0037]FIG. 4A is a partially cross-sectional view of an input module of
the portable electronic device in FIG. 3A;

[0038]FIG. 4B is an operational cross-sectional view of the input module
in FIG. 4A;

[0039] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an input
module in accordance with the present invention;

[0040]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the input module in FIG.
5;

[0041]FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional side view of the input module in FIG.
5;

[0042]FIG. 7B is an operational cross-sectional side view of the input
module in FIG. 5;

[0043]FIG. 8A is a partial top view of a conventional portable electronic
device;

[0044]FIG. 8B is a top view of an input module of the conventional
portable electronic device;

[0046]FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the input module in FIG.
8B; and

[0047]FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the input module
in FIG. 8B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0048] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of an input
module 10 in accordance with the present invention has a sensing
substrate 11, a cover lens 12, a physical switch 13 and a flexible
bridging board 14.

[0049] The sensing substrate 11 has a top surface and a bottom surface
opposite to the top surface. The top surface has a sensing circuit formed
thereon. The sensing substrate 11 further has two relatively long sides
and two relatively short sides, and may be a printed circuit board (PCB)
or a membrane.

[0050] The cover lens 12 is mounted on the top surface of the sensing
substrate 11 for fingers to touch, and may be composed of Mylar or glass.

[0051] The physical switch 13 is mounted on and electrically connected to
the bottom surface of the sensing substrate 11. In the present
embodiment, single physical switch 13 is employed. The physical switch 13
is centrally mounted on the bottom surface of the sensing substrate 11
and may be a bounce switch.

[0052] The flexible bridging board 14 is mounted on the bottom surface of
the sensing substrate 11 and has two relatively short sides respectively
protruding from the two relatively short sides of the sensing substrate
11. In the present embodiment, the flexible bridging board 14 is narrower
than the sensing substrate 11 in width, and the relatively long sides of
the flexible bridging board 14 can be kept at an equal distance from the
corresponding relatively long sides of the sensing substrate 11. Besides,
as the flexible bridging board 14 is longer than the sensing substrate 11
in length, the two relatively two short sides of the flexible bridging
board 14 respectively protrude beyond the relatively short sides of the
sensing substrate 11. In the present embodiment, the flexible bridging
board 14 has a bridging body 141 and two fixing portions 142.

[0053] The bridging body 141 is flatly mounted on the bottom surface of
the sensing substrate 11 and has a rectangular opening 143 and two
support wings 144. The rectangular opening 143 is formed through the
bridging body 141 to correspond to the physical switch 13 and prevents
from interfering with the operation of the physical switch 13. The two
support wings 144 are arced and are formed on and protrude from the two
relatively long sides of the bridge body 141 so as to provide more
support area.

[0054] The two fixing portions 142 are respectively connected with two
relatively short sides of the bridging body 141 and each fixing portion
142 has at least one fixing hole 145 formed therethrough. Each one of the
at least one fixing hole 145 is mounted through by a fastening element,
such as a bolt 23 or other fastening means, for the corresponding fixing
portion 142 to be securely mounted on a corresponding position of an
assembly portion 22. With reference to FIG. 4A, the flexible bridging
board 14 further has two bending portions 1421 respectively formed
between the bridging body 141 and the fixing portions 142. Hence, the
flexible bridging board 14 protects against bending deformation through
the two bending portions 1421. In the present embodiment, the flexible
bridging board 14 is made of plastic material, and the bridging body 141
and the two fixing portions 142 are integrally formed.

[0055] With reference to FIG. 3A, a first embodiment of a portable
electronic device 20 in accordance with the present invention has a body
201 and an input module 10.

[0056] The body 201 has an opening 21 and an assembly portion 22. The
opening is formed through one side of the body 201. The assembly portion
22 is correspondingly mounted to the opening 21. In the present
embodiment, the assembly portion 22 has a raised block 221. The raised
block 221 may be a bolt.

[0057] The input module 10 is mounted on the assembly portion 22 through
the opening 21 of the body 201, and has a sensing substrate 11, a cover
lens 12, a physical switch 13 and a flexible bridging board 14.

[0058] The sensing substrate 11 has a top surface and a bottom surface
opposite to the top surface. The top surface has a sensing circuit formed
thereon. The sensing substrate 11 further has two relatively long sides
and two relatively short sides, and may be a printed circuit board (PCB)
or a membrane.

[0059] The cover lens 12 is mounted on the top surface of the sensing
substrate 11 and is exposed from the opening 21 of the body 201 for
fingers to touch, and may be composed of Mylar or glass.

[0060] The physical switch 13 is mounted on and electrically connected to
the bottom surface of the sensing substrate 11, and aligns with the
raised block 221 of the assembly portion 22. In the present embodiment,
single physical switch 13 is employed. The physical switch 13 is
centrally mounted on the bottom surface of the sensing substrate 11 and
may be a bounce switch.

[0061] The flexible bridging board 14 is mounted across the two relatively
short sides of the sensing substrate 11 and mounted on the bottom surface
of the sensing substrate 11 and has two relatively short sides
respectively protruding from the two relatively short sides of the
sensing substrate 11. The flexible bridging board 14 is narrower than the
sensing substrate 11 in width so the relatively long sides of the
flexible bridging board 14 can be kept at an equal distance from the
corresponding relatively long sides of the sensing substrate 11. Besides,
as the flexible bridging board 14 is longer than the sensing substrate 11
in length, the two relatively two short sides of the flexible bridging
board 14 respectively protrude beyond the relatively short sides of the
sensing substrate 11 and are mounted on the assembly portion 22 of the
body 201. The flexible bridging board 14 has a bridging body 141 and two
fixing portions 142.

[0062] The bridging body 141 corresponds to the bottom surface of the
sensing substrate 11, and has a rectangular opening 143 and two support
wings 144. The rectangular opening 143 is formed through the bridging
body 141 to correspond to the physical switch 13 and prevents from
interfering with the operation of the physical switch 13. Each support
wing 144 is arced and is formed on and protrudes from one of the
relatively long sides toward a corresponding relatively long side of the
sensing substrate 11 so as to provide more support area.

[0063] The two fixing portions 142 respectively protrude beyond the two
relatively short sides of the flexible bridging board 14, and each fixing
portion 142 has at least one fixing hole 145 formed therethrough. Each
one of the at least one fixing hole 145 is mounted through by a fastening
element, such as a bolt 23 or other fastening means, for the
corresponding fixing portion 142 to be securely mounted on a
corresponding position of an assembly portion 22. The flexible bridging
board 14 further has two bending portions 1421 respectively formed
between the bridging body 141 and the fixing portions 142 against bending
deformation. In the present embodiment, the flexible bridging board 14 is
made of plastic material, and the bridging body 141 and the two fixing
portions 142 are integrally formed.

[0064] With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, when users press the input
module 10, the physical switch 13 at the central position is pressed down
to abut against the raised block 221 of the assembly portion 22 and is
activated, and an coordinate of the pressed position on the cover lens 12
is detected, the input module 10 outputs a corresponding control signal.
The single physical switch 13 of the input module 10 is centrally located
on the bottom surface of the sensing substrate 11. The two relatively
short sides of the input module 10 are fastened on the assembly portion
22 while the two relatively long sides of the input module 10 are not.
Hence, users can press any position on the cover lens 12 to activate the
central physical switch 13. The input module 10 may have at least three
functional button areas. With reference to FIG. 3B, the input module 10
has five functional button areas represented by A˜E. The two
adjacent functional button areas A, B near one of the two relatively long
sides of the input module serve as a left button and a right button. The
two adjacent functional button areas C, D near the other relatively long
side and the central functional button area E are available for
manufacturers of portable electronic devices to flexibly design other
functions, such as volume or luminance control.

[0065] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment of an input
module 10a in accordance with the present invention similarly has a
sensing substrate 11, a cover lens 12, a physical switch 13 and a
flexible bridging board 14a. However, the flexible bridging board 14a of
the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment, and has a
bridging body 141a and two fixing portions 142a.

[0066] The bridging body 141a corresponds to and is attached to the bottom
surface of the sensing substrate 11, and has a ring portion 146
corresponding to a position of the physical switch 13 for the physical
switch 13 to align with a central opening 147 of the ring portion 146 and
avoiding to interfere with the operation of the physical switch 13. The
bridging body 141a further has at least one fixing protrusion 1411 formed
on each of two sides of the bridging body 141a corresponding to the two
relatively short sides of the sensing substrate 11. In the present
embodiment, the bridging body 141a is made of metal, plastic material or
other similar material.

[0067] Each fixing portion 142a has at least one inner hole 1422 and at
least one outer hole 1423. The at least one inner hole 1422 is formed
through one side of each fixing portion 142a, respectively corresponds to
the at least one fixing protrusion 1411, and engages the corresponding
fixing protrusion 1411 for one side of the fixing portion 142a to be
securely mounted on a corresponding side of the bridging body 141a. The
at least one outer hole 1423 is formed through the other opposite side of
the fixing portion 142a protruding beyond a corresponding relatively
short side of the sensing substrate 11 for at least one fastening
element, such as bolt, to securely mount the fixing portion on a
corresponding position of the assembly portion 22. With reference to FIG.
7A, each fixing portion 142a in the present embodiment is a metal sheet
and has a bending portion 1421a formed between the at least one inner
hole 1422 and the at least one outer hole 1423. For example, the bending
portion 1421a has a U-shaped cross section and serves to resist bending
deformation.

[0068] With further reference to FIG. 7A, a second embodiment of a
portable electronic device 20a is shown. Similarly, the body of the
portable electronic device 20a has an opening 21 and an assembly portion
22. The opening 21 is formed through one side of the body. The assembly
portion 22 is mounted to correspond to the opening 21. The foregoing
second embodiment of the input module 10a is mounted on the assembly
portion 22. Specifically, the two relatively short sides of the flexible
bridging board 14a of the input module 22 are fastened on the assembly
portion 22, and one side of each fixing portion 142a is securely mounted
on the assembly portion 22. With reference to FIG. 7B, when users press
the input module 20a, the bending portion 1421a is deflected downwards,
the central physical switch 13 is moved downwards to abut against the
raised block 221 of the assembly portion 22 and is activated, and a
corresponding control signal is outputted according to the pressed
position on the cover lens 12. After the input module 20a is not pressed,
the bending portion 1421a of the fixing portion 142a recovers its
original shape.

[0069] Besides, the flexible bridging board 14 of the present invention
can be adjustably mounted on a position of the sensing substrate 11 in
response to an application or a structure of the assembly portion 22. In
other words, the two relatively long sides of the flexible bridging board
14 can kept at unequal distances from the corresponding relatively long
sides of the sensing substrate 11 and the distances can vary according to
different applications.

[0070] From the foregoing two embodiments, the input module of the present
invention has the following advantages.

[0071] 1. Less likelihood of permanent deformation after long-time
operation. As the input module is mounted on the assembly portion with
its two relatively short sides and a physical switch is centrally mounted
on the bottom surface of the sensing substrate, a distance D2 from any
pressed point `F` on the cover lens to a nearest fixed point on the input
module of the present invention is effectively shortened in comparison
with the distance on the conventional input module with a single
relatively long side fastened. With further reference to FIG. 3B, as the
torque generated by the pressed point `F` is lowered and the bending
stress applied to the input module is reduced, the input module can be
protected against excessive deformation and the life duration of the
input module is prolonged.

[0072] 2. Stable support ability: Because the input module is mounted on
the assembly portion with its two relatively short sides and the flexible
bridging board can be centrally attached on the bottom surface of the
sensing substrate, the fixing means of the present invention provides
more stable support strength than the conventional input device fastened
with one side thereof.

[0073] 3. Fully configurable multi-functional buttons: As the physical
switch of the input module is mounted on a central position of the input
module and two relatively long sides of the input module are fixed, users
can active the physical switch by touching any area on the cover lens.
Besides the two corner areas adjacent to one of the relatively long sides
capable of implementing the function of the left button and the right
button, the two corner areas adjacent to the other relatively long side
and an area corresponding to the physical switch are configurable for
other functions, rendering the entire area of the cover lens configurable
for various function buttons.

[0074] 4. less likelihood of storage of dirt and filth: Since the input
module is not easily deformed, no gap is generated as a result of
long-time operation after the input module is mounted, thereby
eliminating the issue for cleaning the stored dirt and filth.

[0075] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present
invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with
details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters
of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the
invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of
the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.